The difference between their lines of research was fundamental, but at the same time, on another level, almost negligible. The Military were investigating the effect that high-intensity magnetic fields could have on the structure, state and spatial location of matter, whereas Derek's team was looking at the effect of high intensity electric fields. Yet, as any physicist would tell you, the electric and magnetic fields are essentially different manifestations of the same force: one is inescapably linked to the other.
One simple example of the difference in approach to their research was that the military were attempting to create their own magnetic fields, whereas the Bush Institute under Derek was currently, for now at least, focusing most of its resources on looking at the capability of Nature to generate the high-energy electric fields which Derek and his resources would never be able to create by themselves, unless billions of dollars were spent. Funding which was simply beyond their reach.
What had made the Colonel particularly excited was the concept of Derek's Hunraken Amplitude and the Hunraken Vortex : "This theory essentially captures what we need to achieve!" the Colonel had explained, becoming very animated and enthusiastic. "If we can create a Hunraken Vortex in our laboratory, predetermining where the vortex is initiated and where it terminates, and then inject matter into that vortex, then we will be able to transport it from 'A' to 'B', and measure the outcome of the experiment! But, even better, is that your theory could easily bridge the divide that currently exists between our two separate approaches to this problem. The best scientists in our team all agree that your Hunraken Vortex could be established in one set of four dimensional coordinates and be terminated in any other. In other words, in your initial target coordinates, either the spatial coordinates 'X,Y,Z' could vary, or the fourth dimensional coordinate: 'Time'. That way, an object could be transported, spatially, temporally, or both! Which is exactly what I believe has happened to Stormchaser 3."
The Colonel had then become more subdued, and said nothing for a few minutes. Derek was silent, recognising that he wanted to say more, but that he was thinking about what he was going to say next.
"The problem I have," the Professor had continued, "...Is that not only do I have to be able to verify the result of every experiment, and understand whether or not it is in line with the theoretical predictions...but I also have to demonstrate, prove and explain everything to the Defense Department...to those who fund me. Especially if I want more funding to continue the work!" The Colonel had paused, looked at Derek straight in the eyes and then continued. "How close were you to Kate?"
The question caught Derek completely off guard. "Kate?...I'm sorry...I don't see the relevance? That's a personal matter, and I thought we weren't going to discuss that anymore."
"Actually, it is relevant. I'm sorry. Maybe I should have clarified earlier the reason we know about your relationship with her. You see, the thing is...Kate works for me."
The Colonel let the sentence hang in the air for a moment before making any attempt to clarify it.
"For you?" Derek asked, confused.
"Yes."
"I thought she worked for NOAA..." Derek protested.
"Well, technically,...she does. As well as for me. But I recruited her a number of years ago, to ...help out....sometimes, with information about observations made whilst at NOAA, both scientific and otherwise. I'm afraid, I can't really elaborate too much."
"Kate was a spy?"
"No. I wouldn't call it that. She was not doing anything that would harm any other Americans. Not at all...but, and let me get to the point here, she was my man on board the Stormchaser, if you pardon the expression...my eyes and ears."
"I don't understand, what was so special that you needed to know about..."
Even before he had finished the question, the answer dawned on Derek. It was beginning to make sense. The Colonel saw the recognition in Derek's eyes.
"Ah, so, I think you understand now. The Stormchaser was flying into the center of the storm, and we were hoping that it would observe a Hunraken Vortex. We couldn't tell NOAA what to ask their teams to look out for, simply because it's all classified and the very fact that we are looking for such a thing is classified. So, we had to ensure that someone on the flight would be our eyes and ears. Someone we could trust."
"Kate was looking for a Hunraken Vortex? She knew about it?"
"Yes. The thing is, none of us knew what it would look like, or in particular how large it would be. I am pretty sure that even you were looking for something very small, and that you had never even considered the possibility that a whole plane could fly through one, or be sucked into it, should one be created?"
"No…stupidly we were looking for something very small...we were looking for something on a completely different scale all together..."
"Exactly. So don't blame yourself. But, and this is the thing, a couple of us at ...in our laboratory... had considered the possibility that such a thing, if created, could actually be large enough to transport something quite large. So..."
"So what?" Derek had said, standing up from his chair and looming over the Colonel? "What did you do?"
"Well,...it was me actually. I met with Kate and we discussed the possibility of something extraordinary taking place, and what she should do if it did happen."
"And what was that? What did you tell her to do if 'something extraordinary' happened?"
"Before I tell you, first think back to what I just told you about the need to verify the result of any experiment. To be able to prove that something took place, both for the purposes of scientific enquiry, and to satisfy the Generals in the Pentagon so that they continue to fund the project."
"I remember... so what is your point?"
"The point is, that in the eventuality that Kate's plane observed a Hunraken Vortex, and in the unlikely event that the plane was caught in that vortex, ...or even if she was able to deliberately 'fly' into one..., then it was of prime importance that when she came out the other side..."
"IF she came out the other side... there is no proof..." Derek interrupted.
"Yes, that IF she came out the other side," the Colonel carried on, determined to finish his point, "…then, wherever she materialized, she should endeavor to make contact with me to describe the experience, and document what had happened."
"I can't believe you....did you ask her to fly into the vortex? That's insanity. Transporting a half-inch ball of copper from one point to another is nothing like transporting a live, incredibly complex, human being!"
"I know, Derek, I know. And don't ask me how I know, just suffice it to say that I do. My point...my point in all of this is that she knew the risks, and she knew the importance of what could happen, if it did. And she knew the incredible importance of contacting me as soon as possible, if anything did happen.
"So, what are you saying? That you have heard from her? Is she alive?" Hope suddenly soared within Derek, only to be dashed a few seconds later.
"No, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant. What I was going to say was that we have not heard anything back so far, so either she is dead, or she was transported somewhere else, either spatially to somewhere where she can't reach us yet, or possibly, just possibly, temporally to either the future or the past. Quite frankly, if she was transported into the future, I can't see any way of her communicating with us now, so we may never know. But, on the other hand, if she was transported back in time...then... there is a possibility that she could let us know."
"Colonel, this is getting ridiculous... This is becoming the stuff of fairy tales and children's stories. This is not science..."
The Colonel stood up from his desk, leaned across the desk and raised his voice slightly.
"Professor Martin, let me ASSURE you, that this is not the stuff of fairy tales or fiction. This is reality. Why on earth do you think the United States government has spent over $1billion dollars on this so far? Because it is real, that's why, because we KNOW it's possible. We..."
&nbs
p; The conversation was getting heated.
"Excuse me, Colonel, and just exactly HOW do you know this is all possible? How?"
For a second, just a second, Derek saw the Colonel's eyes glance over his shoulder at the picture on the wall behind Derek, before coming straight back. "Please sit down, Professor Martin, let us both calm down."
The Colonel gestured with his hand, indicating that Derek should sit before the conversation continued.
Derek hesitated, and then sat down. The Colonel resumed his place opposite him.
"Please believe me when I say that we know this is not as ridiculous as it seems. And let me suggest, most respectfully, that you start believing a little more in the theory that YOU created. You need to start thinking a little more creatively about what it is that you have discovered. You were not the first, but you are perhaps, the most accurate in describing..."
"What do you mean I am not the 'first'?" Derek asked.
The Colonel stopped what he was saying in mid-sentence. He stood up again, and walked to the window and looked out.
"Professor Martin, honestly, I cannot say any more. At least not now. But I do want to share with you one thing. Kate agreed with me, that should such an unlikely thing like 'being caught in a time travelling H-Vortex'...as she called it... ever happen, and if she went back in time, then if it was the last thing she ever did, she would find a way to leave me a message telling me that she had survived and what had happened to her."
"How?"
"Last week we agreed that she should strive to leave a message somewhere where it would survive the course of time. We agreed twenty locations throughout the world where such a message could be left, just in case she was also transported spatially as well as temporally, and she ended up in some distant part of the world with no means to travel between continents. At least, there would be some possibility of travelling across a continent,... if there were the will to succeed. Incidentally, Kate is not the only person trained to do this. We also have others on the other Stormchasers, but it just so happened that it was Kate that was affected."
"This is incredible...absolutely ridiculous..."
"Let me stop you there, immediately, Professor Martin. This is NOT incredible, or ridiculous. And please never think like that again. There are more people interested in the outcome of these experiments than you could possibly imagine. You may be at an elementary stage in your work, but others are not. Believe me, when I say that this is not a game we are playing. Perhaps, at another time, we can talk more about certain aspects of this, but first we need to focus on what just happened in the Atlantic Ocean!"
The Colonel took a few visible deep breaths and then sat down in his chair placing both hands on the table in front of him.
"I know your next question will be, if we have heard from her yet or not, and the answer is no. As we speak, I have agents checking the places that we have pre-agreed would be drop-zone locations for messages to be delivered. However, with each agent we always agree a wild-card drop zone, which is basically somewhere which is personal to that person. Just before the flight, on Sunday, Kate called me. She changed her wildcard location."
"So? What has this got to do with me? I don't understand."
"You will. I have agents checking everywhere else apart from Kate's wildcard. I don't know where Kate's wildcard location is. You do."
"I'm sorry? I still don't understand."
"You will. As part of the security check we did on Kate before we brought her into the program, we identified you as being a former lover. We know a lot about you, Professor Martin, and your relationship with Kate. She knew we knew, and she also found it rather funny,..actually 'cute'...those were her words, not mine,...that she was flying this mission to essentially investigate your theories. She was very proud of you. That's why she suggested that if the mission was successful, and if the Stormchaser was caught in a vortex and sent back in time, then her wildcard location would be exactly where you first told her how much you loved her. I know, it's embarrassing,... but I think you know that Kate has a bit of a wild side to her, and this was her idea and not mine. But basically, it leaves me with no choice, and I have to ask you please to tell me a little more about your relationship with her, and if you can remember, to tell me exactly where you first told her that you love her! It may sound stupid now, but this could, quite literally, be a matter of national importance."
Derek laughed. This was so typically Kate.
The Kate who he had once loved with all his heart.
And still did.
The past twenty-four hours had been hell, wondering what had happened to Stormchaser 3 and assuming that she was dead. But if there was any hope...any...that she could still be alive, even though in another time, then Derek needed to know.
"Please pass me a pen and paper. I will draw you a map of where I first told her. If she is anywhere in the Caribbean she will make it to this place. This will be the place where she will leave her message."
The Colonel opened his attaché case, pulled out some paper and a pen, and slid it across to Derek.
As Derek started to draw a map, he asked, "So, Colonel Patterson, when will your agents go and look for this message of yours?"
"Tomorrow. I leave tomorrow."
"You're going personally?"
"If it's in the Caribbean I will go myself. I'll fly down at dawn."
Derek finished the diagram, pushed it over to the Colonel and explained it.
"Promise me, the moment you find anything, you will call me personally?"
"I will. You have my word."
Thirty minutes later, Derek was sitting on a bench on the banks of the Potomac, looking out across the river, and thinking of Kate.
A tear welled up in the corner of his eye, and Derek wiped it away on the back of his hand. Then he closed his eyes and bowed his head, and for the first time in years, he prayed, asking for Kate to have been delivered safely through space and time to wherever the Hunraken Vortex had taken her.
Chapter 15
The Sea Dancer
Atlantic Ocean
Tuesday
4.45 a.m.
Captain McGregor, Mr Tanner, Mr Bones, Richard Tyler, and James Silver were all below, sitting round the Captain's table, discussing what they should do next.
James Silver was having second thoughts about going ashore. He had just voted to bypass the island of Puerto Rico altogether and head straight back home to their hidden port on an island off the Florida coast.
"Let the men starve for a few days. They are all too fat anyway. A little fasting will do them all good!" Silver had argued. "And this island is possessed by the devil. I for one say that we must not step foot ashore, lest we too become possessed. The devil himself must have lit those fires. They are his work!"
Mr Tanner shrugged his shoulders. "I am just as scared as the rest of you, but we are desperately short of food and water. If another storm whips up from nowhere, who can tell how long it will last, and where it will take us. No, I vote we go ashore this morning. As soon as we can. We need provisions now."
"I second that," Mr Bones agreed. "Another man has fallen sick with the fever. I am worried. They are consumed by thirst and we have precious little water left to give to them. If we don't get more water soon, and if more men catch the fever, I fear for their lives. I fear for our lives!"
"And you Mr Tyler? What say you?" Captain McGregor enquired.
"This is a difficult question, and I can see Mr Silver's point of view. In fact I am inclined to agree with him. But...I know the Christian thing to do would be to find water for the others as soon as possible. So, I vote, let us find somewhere quiet and go ashore there today. Find provisions and water, and then run from here as fast as the wind will take us!"
Captain McGregor nodded slowly.
"I am in agreement with you all. I too hear what Mr Silver has to say. However,... Mr Tanner makes a very good point. If the storm should return we would have to change course away from the coast,
and who knows how long it would last, or where we would end up. We need to take prudent precautions now. I sense that unrest is growing within the crew moment by moment, and nothing helps fuel unrest and discontentment more than an empty belly, and a raging thirst. I am of the mind, therefore, that while we are all still sane and able, we should go ashore and seek the provisions we need. If James Silver will not lead the landing party I will send Richard Tyler. He has already proven his bravery and..." Captain McGregor said, deliberately taunting Mr Silver, and goading him into submission.
"Cap'n Rob," Silver interrupted. "There will be no need for that. I will go. Richard Tyler does not have the experience, and..."
"Then it is agreed, Mr Silver. Excellent. We will go ashore within the hour. Please make the preparations. Tyler, I suggest you nevertheless accompany Mr Silver, and learn what you can from his command. You will learn a lot."
Silver smiled at the compliment, and rose to leave, but as he neared the cabin door, it dawned on him that perhaps he had just been hoodwinked.
He stopped momentarily in the doorway, considering the matter, but then he felt a heavy hand upon his shoulder and Captain McGregor's voice was in his ear: "Come now, Mr Silver. Let us go up and ready the pinnace and the lads. Make it sharpish, man."
As they emerged up on the deck, the Captain was confronted by a group of men who flocked to his side, eager to hear the decision that had been made below decks.
Captain McGregor held up a hand, quietening them all down, and then spoke aloud.
"Lads, strange things have been happening these past few days. I will not deny that. But what shall we do? Shall we stay here and watch the unnatural lights in the sky with an empty belly and a dry tongue, or go ashore and find somewhere where we can fill our guts, and drown our thirst with pure mountain water and grog? I for one would rather help myself to what I can find on land, than sit here and cry and hide my tail between my legs. And just in case there are any of you who cannot yet decide if you are a man or a mouse, I shall issue a single ration of grog for any man that volunteers to join the landing party. Or, if you prefer, and you are a mouse, I will ask the cook to find each of you a small piece of cheese!"
Time Ship (Book One): A Time Travel Romantic Adventure: The ideal Beach Book for reading on Holiday! Page 13